Oxycontin maker Purdue Pharma acquired what it described as an exclusive option to acquire SpineThera, a Plymouth, Minn.-based company developing a steroid-based epidural injection for lower back pain.

Purdue Pharma stated the SpineThera technology has potential to develop non-opioid treatments for chronic pain. The Stamford-based company faces thousands of lawsuits over its marketing of the opioid drug Oxycontin, with Purdue Pharma now focused on broadening its pipeline to other types of drugs.